Vacuum-machine for cans, &amp;c.



PATBNTED MAY s1, 1904.

c. B, MODONALD. VACUUM 'MAGHINB PORUANS, 5w.

APPLIUATION FILED APB. 7, 1902.

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VACUUM MACHINE FOR GANS, &o.

APPLIOATION FILED un. 7, 1902.

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i |HII I No. 761,092. PATBNTBD MAY 31, 1904.

G. B. MQDONALD. VACUUM MACHINE FOR GANs, 6.0.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1902.

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, UNITED STATES Patented May 31, 1904.

. CHARLESIB.l vMCDONALD, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VACUUM-MACHINE FOR CANS, 61.0.

SPECIFICATION' forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,092, dated May 31, 1904.

Application led April '7, 1902.

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. MCDONALD, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Vacuum-Machines for Cans, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention is concerned with certain improvements in machines for extracting the air from cans filled with fruit, meats, &c., before they are sealed, and is designed to produce a device of the class described in which a continuous vacuum is employed into and out of which the cans to be treated are passed one after another, so that the process is practically continuous.

To illustrate'my invention, I annex hereto three sheets of drawings in which the same reference characters are used Yto designate identical parts in all the figures, of which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine with a portion of the carrying-belts therefor broken away. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same with the framework and some of the Y parts in central section. Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the same in section on the line A A of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on the line B B of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in section on the line C C of Fig; 3,4 showing a can in position; and Fig. 6 is a similar View in section on the line D D of Fig. 3.

The base-plate 10 ofthe machine is preferably of a circular form and is supported at a suitable distance from the ground by the legs 11, secured to or formed integral with the under side thereof. Bolted upon or rigidly secured thereto in any suitable manner is the circular shell 12, which is preferably in the form of a truncatedcone, especially on its interior surface 13, which is turned up to give a smooth accurate bearing-surface. The shell has the elongated vhorizontal aperture 14C cut therein in the front side thereof, where the cans are received and delivered. A corresponding groove or recess 151is cut some distance into its rear face, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and extends over an angular distance of about one hundred and eighty degrees. This recess 15, which I may call the Serial No. 101,837. (No model.)

vacuum-recess, is connected by means of the pipe 16 with a continuously-operating airpump by which a vacuum is maintained in the recess. Snugly iitting against the bearing-surface 13 above and below the recess 15 and at the ends thereof is the carrier 17, which is also in the form of a truncated cone and has its outer surface turned down land finished off so as to 5t snugly into the shell and form an air tight joint between `the vacuum-recess 15 and any surrounding spaces to which the air is freely admitted. The bottom surface of the carrier 17 is preferably provided with the annular groove 18, which is oppositely disposed to the annular groove 19, formed in the upper surface of the hardened bearing-ring 20, which is supported upon the base-plate 10, preferably in an annular channel, as shown. A plurality of antifriction-balls 21 are placed in the channels, so that the carrier will revolve easily and with no greater friction than is necessitated by the air-tight joint which it .forms with the shell 12. To keep the joint air-tight and to make an accurate fit between the parts, 1 preferably screw throughthe bottom of the baseplate 10, beneath the bearing-ring 20, a plurality of set-screws 22, by which the bearingring can be raised or lowered as much as may be necessary to form the air-tight joint desired and yet permit the carrier to rotate with aslittle friction as is consistent with maintaining the This vertical shaft 29 has secured to its lower end the bevel gear-wheel 32, which-imeshes with a bevel gearwheel or pinion 33,` secured upon the end of the horizontal shaft 34,'mounted in thebearings 35, secured in the brackets 36, connecting the legs of the machine. The

other end of the shaft 34 is provided with the pulley-wheels 37, by which power is applied to the machine to rotate the carrier slowly by the intermediate mechanism which has just been described. I

The carrier 17 is provided on its periphery with a plurality of preferably-equidistant canrecesses 38, which are preferably U-shaped in their horizontal section and have their faces provided with the correspondingly shaped ange 39, which forms a shoulder against Which the bottom of the can is placed when it is in position, as best shown in Fig. 5. At one end of the recess 14 I provide the carriertrough 40, which may be secured to the shell 12 or the base-plate 10 in any desired manner and which will have its outer end suitably supported at a point near Where the cans are filled. A conveying-belt 41 preferably travels in the bottom of the trough, passing around the roller 42, on the under side thereof, and serves to carry the cans when they are filled to the machine. At the other end of the recess 14 I provide a similar trough 43, which is likewise provided with the carrier-belt 44 on its upper surface and which runs over the roller or wheel 45 and in the opposite direction to carry the cans to the place where they are sealed after the heads have been put on. The top of the shell 12 is preferably closed by the circular plate 46, bolted thereto, and

is placed some .distance above the top of the carrier 17, so that a considerable space intervenes in which to place the cam-track 47, which I conveniently secure to the inside of the upper vertical portion of the shell 12 in any suitable manner, as by the screws passed therethrough and into the track. This track is preferably formed of a channel-iron, andwhile I have shown it as extending entirely around the interior of the shell it will be understood from the following description that it need only extend over a portion of it sufficient to effect the operation of the mechanism to be described. Running in this cam-track yare a series of antifriction-rollers 48, one of which is secured to the upper end of each of the vertical lreciprocating rods 49, which are passed through suitable apertures in the top of the carrier into the recesses 38, the aperture being formed with a packing-gland 50, so that it will be air-tight and not destroy the vacuum in the recesses when they are opposite the vacuum-recess 15. Each of these rods or pistons 49 has the plunger 51 secured on the lower end thereof, which is of the proper shape to coperate with the grooved upper surface of the can-lid 52. To prevent the plungers from turning, so as te hold the anti,- friction-rollers in proper alinement relative to the cam-track, I may employ a pin 53, eX- tending vertically upward therefrom into the correspondingly-shaped recess 54, formed in the carrier.

The operation of the complete device will be readily apparent. The carrier is rotated continuously at a slow rate of speed, or itmight befrotated intermittently, if desired. As each recess 38 comes adjacent to the trough 40 a filled can 55, with thelid 52 resting loosely thereon, as indicated at the left hand of Fig. 6, is inserted in the recess, so that it lits snugly against the shoulder 39, which serves to position it centrally beneath the plunger 51. The continued motion of the carrier carries the can ultimately into register with the recess 15, so that the can and its contents are eX- posed to the action of the constan tly-operating exhaust-pump, `which quickly serves to draw out what air may have been introduced by the recess and by the contents of the can. Of course itwill be understood that the bearing-surface between each of the recesses 38 coperatingwith the bearing-surface extending between the recesses 14 and 15 serves to keep thevacuum closed. As the carrierl rotates the can passes slowly toward the end of the recess, and just before it reaches said end the descent 56 of the cam-track is reached, which causes the` rod 49 and the attached plunger 51 to descend quickly and iirmly,.

forcing the can-head tightly upon the can, so as to make the closure air-tight. The can then passes the end of the vacuum-recess 15, and before Dit reaches the adjacent end of the recess 14 the ascending portion 57 of the camtrack is reached, which raises the plunger' from the can-head, so that when the recess containing the can emerges from the shell the can can be withdrawn from the recess and placed onthebelt 44 to, carry it to the point where it is to be permanently sealed.

y VOf course it will be understood that my device is capable of various modilications and that my invention contemplates the inserting of the cans in the carrier and the withdrawal of them, either or both, automatically. It also contemplates changes in form and the location of theparts, so that while I have shown my invention as embodied in the form which I at present considerl best adapted to carry out its .purposes I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters'Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the bearing-surface, of a carrier provided with laterally-opening can-recesses and coperating with the bearing-surface to provide a vacuum-chamber, and means for pressing lids upon the cans while in the vacuum-chamber.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with the vacuum-chamber in a concave bearing-surface, of a rotary can-carrier provided with laterally-opening can-recesses TOO IIO

in its periphery and having said periphery adapted to make a continuous air-tight joint with the bearing-surface, and means for press- I ing the lids upon the cans while in the vacuumchamber. v l

, 3. In adevice of the class described, the combination with the vacuum-chamber in a concave bearing-surface, of a rotary can-carrier provided with laterally-opening can-recesses in its periphery and having said periphery adapted to make a continuous air-tight joint with'the bearing-surface, means for rotating the carrier, anda plunger associated with each recess for forcing the lid upon the can therein while in the vztcuum-charnber. j

4.- In a device ofthe class described, the com bination with the shell having the interior concave bearing-surface provided with a vacuum- .'chamber in one side thereof and having a can receiving anddelivery aperture in the oppfoi -site side, of the cylindrical carrier having the forming lthe boundary of a truncated cone with the vacuum-chamber in one side thereof andthe can receiving and delivery aperture in the opposite sid'e,.of= the can-carrier having the truncated conical periphery adapted to \co" operate with the interior of the shell and having the can-recesses in its periphery opposite the vacuum-chamber and apertureand adapted to make a continuous air-tight joint with said shell for the purpose described. 6. In a device of the class described, the combination with the -shell having its interior forming'the boundary of a truncated conel with the vacuum-chamber in one side thereof and thc can receiving and delivery aperture in the opposite side, of the can-carrier in the form of a cooperating truncated cone having the can-recesses in its periphery opposite the vacuum-chamber and aperture, and means for adjusting the vertical position of said carrier to insure an air-tight joint between the shell and the carrier.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination with the shell having its interior forming the boundary of a truncated cone with the vacuum-chamber in one side thereof and the can receiving and delivery aperture in the-opposite side, of the can-carrier in the form of a cooperating truncated cone having the can-recesses in its periphery opposite the vacuum-chamber and aperture, and means for adjusting the vertical position of said carrier to insure an air-tight joint between the shell and the carrier consisting of the bearing-annulus in the base of the shell, and means, such as the set-screws, for raising or lowering the annulus.

8. In a device of the class described, the coinbination with the shell having the concave inn'er bearing-surface having the vacuum-cham-Y ber in one side thereof and the receiving and delivery aperture in the opposite side, of the cylindrical carrier having the can-recesses in its periphery opposite the vacuum-chamber and aperture, antifriction-bearings interposed between the bottom of the shell and the carrier, and means for rotating the carrier.

9. In a device ofthe class described, the combina-tion with the shell having 'its inner bearing-surface forming the boundary of a truncated cone with the vacuum-chamber in one side thereof and the receiving and delivery aperture-in the opposite side, of the truncated conical can-carrier having the recesses in its periphery opposite said chamber and aperture, the annular bearing-ring located in the vbase'ofthe shell, the antifriction-balls located between the under surface of the carrier and the upper surface of the bearing-ring, and the set-screws passing through the base of the shell and taking against the bottom of the combination with the shell having the concave bearing-surface provided with a vacuumchamber, of the rotary can-carrier provided with can-recesses 1n its periphery and adapted to' make a continuous'air-tight joint with the bearing-surface of the shell, and means for rotating the carrier consisting of the shaft to which it is secured having the gear-wheel on the bottom thereof, and a gear-pinion meshing with said gear-wheel.

l1. In a device of the class described, the combination with the shell having the concave inner bearing-surface with the vacuumchamber in one side thereof and the receiving and delivery aperture in'the opposite side, of the cylindrical carrier having the can-recesses in its periphery opposite said chamber and aperture and adapted to make a continuous air-tight joint with the shell, and the belt terminating adjacent the aperture and adapted to delivercans thereto.

l2. In a device of the class described, the combination with the shell having the concave inner bearing-surface with the vacuumchamber in one side thereof and the receiving and delivery aperture in the opposite side, of the cylindrical carrier having the can-recesses in its periphery opposite said chamber and aperture and adapted to make a continuous air-tight joint with the shell, and the belt terminating adjacent the aperture and adapted to carry cans therefrom.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination with the shell having the concave inner bearing-surface with the vacuumchamber in one side thereof and the receiving and delivery aperture in the opposite side, of the cylindrical carrier having the can-recesses in its periphery opposite said chamber and aperture and adapted to make a contin- IOO IIO

nous air-tight joint with the shell, and the belts terminating adjacent the aperture and adapted to carry cans to and from the same..

14. In a device of the class described, the

'combination with the vacuum-chamber, .of the can-carrier cooperatingtherewith to lpass-the cans through the vacuum without breaking the same, and automatlcally means for forc- `ing the lids down upon the cans before emerging from the vacuum-chamber.

Vl5. In a device of the class described, the combination with the vacuum-chamber., of the can-carrier cooperating therewith to pass the cans through the vacuum without breaking the same, yand means for forcing the lids down y upon the cans before emerging from the vacuum-chamber consisting of a plunger centrally vlocated above the can, a rod extending through a'packing-gland to the outside of the can-carrier connected to said plunger, and a stationary camwith which said rod cooperates as ity passes it. i 16. In a device of the class described, ther combination ywith the vacuum-chamber, of the can-carrier cooperating therewith to pass the cans through the vacuum without breaking 'the same, a plunger centrally located above the can, a rod extending Vvertically through a I combination with the vacuumchamber, of a can-carrier cooperating therewith to pass the cans through the vacuum without breaking the same, a vertically-moving plunger centrally located'above the can, a 'rod secured thereto extending vertically upward through a packing-gland, and a stationary cam-track with which said rod cooperates to depress the plunger to close the can before it emerges fromthe vacuum and to raise the plunger to release the can before it reaches the point of delivery.

'18. 1n a device of the class described, the

` combination with the vacuum-chamber, of the can-carrier cooperating therewith to pass the cans'through the vacuum without breaking the same, a vertically-moving plunger centrally located above the can, a rod secured thereto extending vertically upwardthrough a packing-gland, and a stationary cam-.track with which said rod cooperates to depress theplunger to close the can before it emerges from the vacuum and to raise the plunger to release the can before it reaches the point of delivery, and means to prevent said rod from turning.

19. In a device of the class described, the combination with the shellhaving the concave inner bearing-surface with the vacuum-chamber in one side thereof and the receiving and delivery aperture in the opposite side, of the cylindrical carrier having the can-recesses in its periphery opposite said chamber and aperture and adapted to make a continuous airtight joint with said shell, the U-shaped flange in the bottom of each of 4 the can-recesses to position thecan, a plunger centrally-located above the can, a rod passing through apacking-gland to the outside of the carrier connected to said plunger, and a stationary cam Vwith which said rod cooperates to force the head upon the can before emerging from the vacuum.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. .i

CHARLES B. MC ONALD. Witnesses:

JOHN H. MoELRoY, HATTIE O. HALvoRsoN. 

